Flood-fence



' (No Model.) W. W. KING.

FLOOD FENCE.

No. 464,605. Patented Dec. 8, 1891.

. E Y Y 1 8mg? flfaifiiem/ FIWZMIVE I was co, woro-|.|ma., wAsHnmTun a c UNITED STATES PATEN l r mos.-

IVILLIAM YVELLS KING, OF LEWISTON, MISSOURI.

FLOOD-FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 464,605, dated December 8, 1891.

Application filed February 26, 1891.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM WELLS KING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lewiston, in the county of Lewis and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Flood-Fence, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fences, and more especially to that class thereof which are built over streams or across natural or artificial trenches and overflowed lands which are liable to contain more or less water after heavy rains.

The object of the invention is to provide improvements in'fences of this character; to which end it consists of the details of construction hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and as illustrated on the sheet of drawings, wherein- Figure l is a general perspective view of this fence, showing the panels thereof built across a small stream and the latter in its normal condition, but representing the center of the cable and wires broken off in order to show the parts more prominently. Fig. 2 is a central transverse section. Fig. 3 is'a similar section showing the position of parts in the time of freshet.

By the word cable in this specification I intend to designate that part stretched across the stream from post to post which supports the top of the panels, and it may consist of chains or rods linked together at the ends or connected by swivels, or it may consist of wire or wire cable or any flexible construction to which the top bar may be joined or of which it may form a part and allow of the oscillating motion desired in said top bar.

Referring to the said drawings, the letters P P designate supports or posts set in the banks of a stream or on opposite sides of a trench or at intervals on overflowed lands, through which water may pass, and Y are strong eyebolts mounted in the upper ends of these posts, as shown. Between these eyebolts is tightlystretched a cable L, connecting with bars U, having clevises O at their ends or elsewhere, as required, these bars constituting the upper bar of panels described below, two of which are shown in the present Serial No. 382.848- (No model.)

case, although more or less maybe employed, as desired.

Each panel of this fence comprises what I shall call a float F, which is a broad piece of wood depending from the top bar U, above mentioned, at about right angles thereto, a post proper O, secured at its upper end to said upright on the downstream side thereof and standing at a considerable angle to the float F, a brace B between these parts, about where shown, for keeping them properly spaced, and inclined braces I, arranged preferably about as shown, to keep the upright members at right angles to the top bar U. A number of wires W are connected to the eyebolts Y, led thence downwardly close along the banksof the stream to the post 0 of the outer panels, where they are properly spaced, and passed thence across the stream, being similarly secured to the several posts, and these wires may be barbed, twisted, woven, or plain, as preferred, and may carry small pickets, if desired, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

The manner of attaching the-wires W to the posts 0 is best seen in Fig. 1, and consists of a plate A, centrally pivoted by a screw S to the outer face of each post, and having perforations near its extremities with links or rings inserted to which the wires are connected, thus protecting the wires from being broken by the bending back and forth caused by the motion of the panels during freshets.

In operation the fence normally hangs as seen in Figs. 1 and 2; but when a rush of water occurs down the stream or trench or across the land the fence assumes the position shown in Fig. 3- -that is to say, the force of the water strikingthe float F, as well as its buoyant properties, cause it to rise, whereby the brace B will raise the post 0 and the wires Wcompletely above the waterlevel, the cable L allowing the upper bar U to oscillate sufficiently to permit this motion. The water thus flows beneath the wires, and no floating log or other dbris will strike them unless it projects considerably above the water-level. Eyen in this case it Will strike the uppermost wires first; but, as they are connected at their ends to the pivoted plates A, they are permitted a certain movement un der such circumstances, and the result is that the obstructing log will lift the fence suffieiently to pass beneath. the wires. Of course if the log should strike the submerged lower end of the float F the latter will simply rise and the log will pass under.

The height of the panelsof this fence is such that the water-level in all ordinary floods will be beneath the top bars U, and in such cases the fence will be operative, as above described.

The parts of this fence can be easily constructed and of cheap materials.

I do not confine myself to the exact details of construction, as various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention.

\Vhat is claimed as new is- 1. In a flood-fence, the combination, with supports mounted on the banks of a stream and having eyebolts in their upper ends, of a horizontal top bar, its extremities connected by cable to said eyebolts so as to permit it to oscillate, a broad float depending from the top bar, a long post also depending therefrom and standing at an angle to the float on the downstream side, braces for these members, and wires connected to said cyebolts and intermediately to said post, substantially as described i 2. In a flood-fence, the combination, with supports mounted on the banks of a stream and having eyebolts in their upper ends and panelsbetween said supports, each panel comprising a top bar with clevises connected by cable to the eyebolts of adjacent panels, a broad float depending from the top bar, a long post also depending therefrom and standing at an angle to the float on the downstream side, and braces for these members, of wires connected to said eyebolts and intermediately to the several posts, plates centrally pivoted to said posts and having perforations neartheir extremities, and links or rings are inserted therein to which said wires are connected, substantially as hereinbefore described.

3. In a flood-fence, the combination, with a flexible cable stretched across the course of the water, of the top timbers connected to the cable, the series of wires connected'to the same support as the cable and extending down along the banks of the stream and across the same, so as to constitute a part of the fence, and the depending timbers attached to the top timbers and also to the series of wires, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM WELLS KING. Witnesses:

W. E. HULL, S. E. Ronnnrs. 

